https://www.vanderburghsheriff.com/recent-booking-records.aspx
IS IT TRUE JULY 25, 2019
We hope that today’s “READERS FORUMâ€Â will provoke honest and open dialogue concerning issues that we, as responsible citizens of this community, need to address in a rational and responsible way.
IS IT TRUE the Vanderburgh County Commissioners passed a ordinance on first reading to allow businesses to determine the number of of-street parking lot spaces needed for developments in Vanderburgh County? …this  proposed ordinance now has to pass Area Plan Commission before it goes back to the Vanderburgh County Commission for final reading and approval? …this ordinance only affects areas outside city limits in Vanderburgh County and not the City of Evansville or in the Town of Darmstadt?
IS IT TRUE that 75% of the things we worry about never happen? …that 10% of the things we worry about aren’t important? Â …we should focus on the remaining 15% that effect us?
IS IT TRUE that the City-County Observer is honored that local business icon Mike O’Daniel has taken time from his busy schedule to be today’s “Living Outside The Box” guest speaker? Â …that a large gathering looks forward to his sharing his business experiences with them?
IS IT TRUE last Monday evening the Evansville City Council approved an ordinance that regulated the placement of unsolicited materials on private property?  …starting soon unsolicited materials must be left in a newspaper distribution box or between a storm door? …it now looks like the Evansville Courier and Press “Extra Savings” free but unsolicited publication can no longer can be tossed on people driveways because it will be in violation of the newly passed City Of Evansville ordinance?
IS IT TRUE governmental officials feel that they have the solutions to fix a problem facing small business owners but they are really the problem?
IS IT TRUEÂ that small business owners work extremely hard to make a profit but they also have to work twice as hard to keep it?
IS IT TRUE that AssuredPartners-Evansville is todays CCO “Living Outside The Box” corporate luncheon underwriter? …that AssuredPartners-Evansville has a unique philosophy when it comes to growth thru acquisition? …that AssuredPartners provides their Associates with the financial resources to let them do what they have always done, make independent decisions at the local level as to what is best for Evansville and Vanderburgh County?
IS IT TRUE that some Federal Government agencies are most effective when they are shut down?
IS IT TRUE that the Vanderburgh County EMA Director Cliff Weaver  and his staff are doing an outstanding job protecting the citizens of our community?
IS IT TRUE that the only way to promote the best in an election are by candidates and their sponsors being straightforward, open, and clear in their communication to voters?
IS IT TRUE that the four Democrat City Council candidates under 40 years old are hosting a joint fundraising event at Kevin’s Backstage called “4 Under 40†on August 8th? …Ben Trockman, Alex Burton, Kaitlin Moore Morley and Zach Heronemus are the four candidates?
IS IT TRUE we hope one day that our home owned and home grown business owners will realize that they don’t have problems but only challenges?
IS IT TRUE we have been informed that Democratic Vanderburgh County Commissioners Jeff Hatfield and Ben Shoulders are co-hosting a golf outing this fall?… we are that this golf outing will contain morning and afternoon flights and will be sold out? …this event will be hosted at one of the public courses in Evansville? …we are  also told that this event is projected to raise $100,000? …we hear that this event is will attract Republicans, Democrats and Independents alike?
IS IT TRUE we have been told by reliable sources within the Republican party that Wayne Parke continued personal attacks against the At-Large Evansville City Council candidate Alex Schmitt (R) has all but guaranteed him a seat on Council?
IS IT TRUE we people fear the government we have tyranny but when government fear the people we have liberty?
Today’s “Readers Poll” question is:Â Who was the most or is the most effective “First Lady” of Evansville?
If you would like to advertise in the CCO please contact us at City-County Observer@live.com
Footnote: City-County Observer Comment Policy. Be kind to people. Personal attacks or harassment will not be tolerated and shall be removed from our site.
We understand that sometimes people don’t always agree and discussions may become a little heated.  The use of offensive language and insults against commenters shall not be tolerated and will be removed from our site.
Any comments posted in this column do not represent the views or opinions of the City-County Observer, our media partners or advertisers
Senator Braun’s Statement on Mueller Testimony
 U.S. Senator Mike Braun released the following statement regarding former special counsel Robert Mueller’s testimony before the U.S. House Committees on the Judiciary and Intelligence:
“Unsurprisingly, today’s audiobook of the Mueller report provided no new information from when Attorney General Barr released it with unprecedented transparency: the Trump campaign still did not collude with Russia, President Trump still did not obstruct justice, and Democrats in Congress still need to move on to the real problems Americans sent us here to fix.†– Senator Mike Braun
House And Senate Hire Lawyer To Intervene In Curtis Hill Lawsuit
House And Senate Hire Lawyer To Intervene In Curtis Hill Lawsuit
By Brandon Barger
TheStatehouseFile.com
INDIANAPOLIS—Leaders of the Indiana House and Senate have asked a federal court to allow them to intervene in a lawsuit filed by four women who say that Attorney General Curtis Hill groped them at a party at the end of the 2018 legislative session.
House Speaker Brian Bosma, R-Indianapolis, and Senate President Pro Tempore Rodric Bray, R-Martinsville, said late Monday that they had hired Susan M. Zoeller of Jackson Lewis P.C. to represent them in the case. Zoeller, who previously helped lawmakers craft new sexual harassment policies, has been paid $54,474 for her services so far, according to the Legislative Services Agency.
Four women—Rep. Mara Candelaria Reardon, D-Munster; Niki DaSilva, a legislative assistant for Indiana Senate Republicans; Samantha Lozano, a legislative assistant for Indiana House Democrats; and Gabrielle McLemore, communications director for Indiana Senate Democrats— sued Hill and the state of Indiana in U.S District Court for sexual harassment, gender discrimination, retaliation, battery, invasion of privacy and defamation related to the March 2018 incident.
Hill is being sued both personally and in his role as attorney general. Indiana is being sued because, the women say, lawmakers and policy-making officials failed to act when concerns about workplace discrimination and retaliation were reported.
But neither the House nor the Senate was sued separately, which is why the lawmakers are asking the court to allow them to intervene in the case.
Attorneys for the women at Katz, Korin, and Cunningham declined to comment on why the General Assembly wasn’t included in the lawsuit.
In motions to intervene on behalf of each legislative chamber, Zoeller wrote that by not naming the House or the Senate, the four women are requiring them to change policies without giving either of them an opportunity to defend current policies.
In addition to the allegations against Hill, the lawsuit says that the state’s policies to protect employees against sexual harassment have been weak or non-existent. In January, the General Assembly passed its first sexual harassment policy, but the lawsuit claims the policy does not go far enough to protect employees.
Zoeller wrote that the House and Senate have a long-term interest in defending its policies and investigative actions from attack.
In separate responses on behalf of the House and Senate, Zoeller responded line by line to every point made in the women’s lawsuit, including whether the sine die party held at the end of the session was an officially sanctioned event.
“Answering further, the Indiana House denies there is an official, sanctioned sine die Celebration,†she wrote. Zoeller had a similar statement in the Senate response.
In addition to seeking damages against Hill and the state, the women in their lawsuit are asking the court to order the state to improve policies and procedures to for preventing and reporting sexual harassment and retaliation.
Hill has filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit, saying that the charges against him do not rise to the level of a civil rights violation.
Hill faces a hearing in October before retired Supreme Court Justice Myra Selby on charges filed against him by the Indiana Supreme Court disciplinary commission. The 10-page complaint accuses him of committing both felony-level and misdemeanor battery while acting “with the selfish motive to arouse his sexual desires.â€
Hill could face the loss of his law license, which in turn could cost him his elective office because Indiana law requires the attorney general to be licensed to practice law.
FOOTNOTE: Brandon Barger is a reporter for TheStatehouseFile.com, anews website powered by Franklin College journalists.
Today’s “Living Outside The Box” Event At BIAGGI’S Speaker Is Mike O’Daniel
Mike O’Daniel Is July 25th “Living Outside The Box” Speaker
(Tucker Publishing Joins The City-County Observer As A Co-Sponsor Of This Event)
Steve Hammer the Chairman of the “Living Outside The Box” speaker series announced the co-sponsors of this event will be the City-County Observer and Tucker Publishing. This event will be held on Thursday, July 25th in the private banquet room at Biaggi restaurant starting at noon and is booked to capacity.
This lunch started out as an invitation only event. But it got out of control when we started to receive many requests from interested people that wanted to attend this worthy community function. We originally planned to invite 40 guests `to this event but it quickly multiply to 60 plus guests. Â Even more amazing is we now have a waiting list around 27 people who want to attend the next “Living Outside The Box” speakers series event scheduled for August, 2019.
This month “Living Outside The Box” speaker is the well respected Mike O’Daniel who’s business career spans over several decades as an Executive with an iconic Evansville automobile conglomerate.  Mr. O’Daniels is the Co-President D-Patrick Inc. and President D-Patrick Ford/Lincoln, D-Patrick Boonville Ford, and D-Patrick Honda.
Michael O’Daniel is a 1983 Graduated from Culver Military Academy located in Culver IN.  In 1987 he graduated from Southern Methodist University with a BS Accounting.  In 1988 he graduated from NADA Dealer Candidate Academy in McLean VA.
From 1988-1995 he served in multiple management positions at D-Patrick Inc. in Evansville IN. and Cross Roads Lincoln Mercury in Cleveland OH.
From 1995-1997 he served as General Manager of both D-Patrick Oldsmobile/Hyundai and D-Patrick Ford in Evansville, In.
In 1997 Purchased D-Patrick Inc. as a 50/50 partner with brother in law Ray Farabaugh and assumed the role of Co-President of D-Patrick Inc.and President of D-Patrick Ford and D-Patrick Oldsmobile/Hyundai. He is currently Co-President D-Patrick Inc. and President D-Patrick Ford/Lincoln, D-Patrick Boonville Ford, and D-Patrick Honda.
He is married to Missy O’Daniel. They have three adult children. Peter O’Daniel who is engaged to be married in January to Ali Schreiber. Peter serves as Parts and Service Director for D-Patrick Ford and D-Patrick Boonville Ford. Margot Roehrborn who is mother to Finn and is expecting a son Owen in September. Margot is married to Wolfi who is in charge of the Northside D-Patrick Collision Center.  Molly O’Daniel who lives in Denver who previously worked for CBRE but has left to further her business education.
When Mr. O’Daniel isn’t working he enjoys spending time with family and friends, traveling, Â flying his 1978 Cessna 172 airplane, playing tennis, golf, fishing, water skiing, snow skiing, and Scuba diving.
Event Chairman Steve Hammer stated “that our monthly speaker series will focus on home grown businesses successes and challenges. Mr. Hammer says; “Living Outside The Box” speakers series will feature unique and insightful stories of success and perseverance from prominent business leaders that tend to fly under the public radar.”
City-County Observer Publisher, Ron Cosby also added; “We understand that there are a lot of successful entrepreneurs who, because of economic, technological, or political challenges, have experienced a negative impact on their businesses.”   “We are going to actively search for local business people who went through economic adversity due to bureaucratic restrictions, governmental intervention, or increased competition, but had the good business sense to “Living Outside The Box” to allow their products or services to continue to thrive. We also hope that this will turn out to be a great resource for locally owned and developing businesses.”
For additional information concerning our next ‘Living Outside The Box” speaker event please contract Steve Hammer by calling him at 812-589-3802.
FOOTNOTE: Get your own copy of “Living Outside the Box” by Joe Jack Wallace please click the link below.
Friedman Park Event Center Ground Breaking
Warrick County broke ground on the 16,000 square foot Friedman Park Event Center. This modern lodge, multi-use facility is set within the 180 acres of Friedman Park in Warrick County.  The Event Center’s design will allow it to host a wide range of events, conferences and corporate functions as well as community and business events. The Event Center will be a significant asset to pair with the adjacent Victoria National Golf Club, one of the nation’s top courses for future tournaments, events and corporate retreats.
The Friedman Park, infrastructure, and event center make up $11.6 million transformative project that is part of the Regional Cities Initiative driven by the State of Indiana. The Regional Cities Initiative designated three regions through a competitive process to receive $42 million for talent attraction projects to be leveraged by additional public and private investment. Once called the Victoria National Conference Center in the plan for Indiana’s Great Southwest, the project will receive $2,000,000 from Regional Cities funding and the remaining from public county funding and local private investment.
“Regional planning and transformational quality of place projects are vital to continuing to propel Indiana’s economy forward,†said Elaine Bedel, president of the Indiana Economic Development Corporation. “The Friedman Park Event Center is one piece of a strategic plan to enhance culture, vitality and livability across Southwest Indiana, supporting efforts to retain and attract top talent in Warrick County and throughout the region.â€
“Warrick County has extraordinary vision in providing residents with useful and desired amenities,†said Beth Mcfadin Higgins, president of the Southwest Indiana Regional Development Authority. “The Friedman Park Event Center is a welcomed addition to the health and recreation focus of the community and is certainly a talent attracting location for residents and visitors of Indiana’s Great Southwest.â€
“The Friedman Park Event Center will allow us to create new and exciting opportunities for the region by leveraging two of our area’s finest resources, Friedman Park and Victoria National Golf Course. Resident and visitors alike will benefit from the transformative project,†said Dan Saylor, Warrick County Commissioner.
The project completion date is fall of 2020.Friedman Park Event Center breaks ground
University of Evansville Theatre Announces 2019-2020 Season
The University of Evansville Theatre announces six productions for the 2019-2020 season. Newly hired as an Assistant Professor of Acting, Amelia McClain makes her directing debut at the University of Evansville withSMALL MOUTH SOUNDS, in the May Studio Theatre, Sept. 20 through 26. SMALL MOUTH SOUNDS, by Drama Desk Award-winning writer Bess Wohl, was a 2016 off-Broadway hit and New York Times Critic’s Pick.
Tlaloc Rivas, a New York City-based theatre artist, guest directs THE THREE MUSKETEERS, in Shanklin Theatre, Oct. 18 through 27. Inspired by the novel of Alexandre Dumas, this new play by Megan Monaghan Rivas is set in 17th century France, but reimagined in a
world where women and men are equally empowered.
Blake Ware, a senior theatre performance major from Evansville, Ind., directs LONE STAR SPIRITS, in the May Studio Theatre, Nov. 18 through 24. The New York Times called it, “Another spunky, funny work by Josh Tobiessen.”
The spring season begins with the musical VIOLET, music by the Tony Award-winning composer Jeanine Tesori, lyrics and book by Brian Crawley, and based on “The Ugliest Pilgrim,” by Doris Betts. Slated to be directed by Resident Director Wes Grantom and music directed by Adjunct Instructor Dana Taylor, this musical originally premiered Off-Broadway in 1997 and won the New York Drama Critics’ Circle Award for Best Musical and the revised version made its Broadway debut in 2014 and received a Tony Award nomination for Best Revival of a Musical. VIOLET runs in Shanklin Theatre, Feb. 21 through Mar. 1.
Blake Elliott, a senior stage management major from Cypress, Texas, directs COLUMBINUS, created by the United States Theatre Project and written by Stephen Karam and PJ Paparelli, in the May Studio Theatre, Mar. 23 through 29. Peter Marks of The Washington Post called this play, “An ambitious examination of the suburbanization of evil.”
McClain takes helm of the final production of the season, Anton Chekhov’s THE SEAGULL, in Shanklin Theatre, April 17 through 26. Adapted by Tom Stoppard, the Academy Award winning writer of SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE, his version of THE SEAGULL remains faithful to the humor Chekhov intended to convey amid all the pathos.
Subscription tickets for the three-play Shanklin Theatre series are available for $46 adult and $40 for senior adults, UE employees, and any student. Patrons can also purchase a three-play May Studio Theatre subscription for $25. Subscriptions may be purchased by calling 812.488.2747.
MEET SHEEP DOG IMPACT ASSISTANCE TEAM OF SOUTHERN INDIANA
Here is how the sheep and the Sheep Dog think differently. The sheep pretend the wolf will never come, but the Sheep Dog lives for that day. After the attacks on September 11, 2001, most of the sheep, that is, most citizens in America said, “Thank God I wasn’t on one of those planes.†The Sheep Dogs, the warriors, said, “Dear God, I wish I could have been on one of those planes. Maybe I could have made a difference.†When you are truly transformed into a warrior and have truly invested yourself into warriorhood, you want to be there. You want to be able to make a difference.
Lt. Col. Dave Grossman (US Army)
Author of On Combat
WHAT WE DO
- Disaster Response Missions – This is what SDIA was founded on, and continues to be our primary continued service opportunity.
- Outdoor Adventures – Providing challenging activities promotes camaraderie and restores self-confidence in our Sheep Dogs.
- Holiday Assistance – Our Thanksgiving and Christmas Outreach programs provide meals and/or gifts to Sheep Dog families in need.
EPA Administrator Signs MOU With American Conservation Coalition To Enhance Environmental Education
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Andrew Wheeler signed a first-time Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the American Conservation Coalition (ACC) to attract, educate, inspire and prepare students for careers and opportunities within today’s various environmental fields.
“Today’s MOU with the American Conservation Coalition will help educate and encourage more students to get involved in important environmental issues like combatting marine litter, improving recycling, and reducing lead exposure,â€Â said EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler. “EPA is proud to work alongside ACC to inspire the next generation of environmental leaders and advance solutions to today’s pressing environmental challenges.â€
“ACC is delighted to be working with the EPA on important projects to improve our environment,” said Benji Backer, American Conservation Coalition President. “Environmental progress is important no matter where it comes from, and the EPA plays a vital role in protecting our environment. Administrator Wheeler and his team will be important allies for the environmental movement going forward.â€
ACC can help and attend at many EPA events including Trash Free Waters, Winning on Reducing Food Waste Initiative, Healthy Schools Initiative, and America Recycles Day. EPA looks forward to continuing the relationship with ACC and its members on over 130 college campuses.
Explore Ivy Tech Event Planned at Eastland Mall Saturday
Individuals interested in learning more about Ivy Tech Community College, and its more than 50 programs that are available for study, can combine their back-to-school shopping, along with their inquiry, by coming to Eastland Mall, Saturday.
Explore Ivy Tech is planned for Saturday, July 27, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., in the Center Court area of Eastland Mall. Each of Ivy Tech’s seven schools, representing nearly 100 certificates, technical certificates and associate degrees, will have information for individuals to pick up, as well as free offerings. An opportunity to apply on-site and be accepted, will also be available.
Attendees will be able to learn about the valuable of stackable degrees, getting an individual into the workforce quickly, on their way to an Associate of Applied Science or Associate of Science degree. The Workforce Alignment team will be on hand, as well, with information about non-credit class offerings, as well as Next Level Jobs programs, which offer a free college credential for those who have not yet earned a college